A classic by one of Texas’ most iconic writers. The book tells about a 3-week trip canoe trip Graves made on that part of the river between Possum Kingdom Lake and Lake Whitney. The book relates an account of the trip itself as well as numerous stories about the history of the area around the river as well as Graves childhood association with the river. and of North Central Texas. This particular copy was inscribed by Graves to J. Stokely Ligon and his wife in the year of initial publication. Ligon was a noted New Mexico conservationist and wildlife specialist. In the inscription, Graves thanks the Ligons for the hospitality they extended him during a visit made to their home in Carlsbad, N.M. It is handwritten and very long beginning on the front of the first free endpaper, continuing to the back side of the first endpaper, and concluding on the front of the second endpaper where Graves signs and dates it (December, 1960). The note from Graves refers to ‘wildlife creatures” and the “poetry” in them. It also indicates a certain timidity in Graves toward Ligon, who he called a “distinguished wildlife scientist”. A fabulous inscription that gives true insight to Graves, the man. It is truly one-of-a-kind.

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1960. 1^st edition. 306 pages. Hardcover book with dustjacket. This book has one noticeably bumped corner and one slightly bumped corner; there is a stain in the lower outside corner of the front free endpaper that partially bled onto the front pastedown and, ever-so-slightly onto the next two or three pages, and affixed to the front pastedown is an extract about Graves and the book that was published December 5, 1960 in Time Magazine. Overall the book is better than GOOD but perhaps a bit shy of VERY GOOD. The dustjacket has chipping, tearing and wrinkling to the top and bottom edges of the dustjacket with some loss of paper at the head of the spine (not affecting the lettering on the jacket), a very small loss of paper at the bottom of the spine, again not affecting lettering, and small losses at the top of the fold between the front and rear panels and the inside flaps. Overall, the dustjacket is GOOD. INSCRIBED and SIGNED by Graves.